Decision makers

Protect the Lacey Act: Don’t Let Dirty Politics Destroy Rainforests

The Lacey Act is a 100 year old law that exists to stop the importation of illegal products into the United States. Originally the Act only applied to things like orchids and butterflies. However, the Bush administration with broad Republican and Democratic support, decided to strengthen the law to prevent illegal timber from being imported into the US because they realized that cheap, illegally logged wood was hurting American businesses.

Since 2008, the Lacey Act has been instrumental in saving forests and protecting the endangered species that call them home from illegal logging. Just recently, the US government was presented with an award from the UN for its environmental leadership when it amended the Act to cover illegal timber. It’s considered by many to be one of the most important environmental laws in decades and it’s one of the best tools we have to protect forests.

The Lacey Act works.

But now there is a movement, being led by deregulation lobbyists, to amend or even repeal the Lacey Act altogether. They’re using the same tired story: government regulations getting in the way of business. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even the Koch Brothers are getting involved with their front group Americans for Prosperity by funding an upcoming rally against the Lacey Act.

Don’t let dirty politics destroy the world’s rainforests and hurt American business. Tell your member of Congress to protect the Lacey Act today.

I am writing to urge you not to play politics with one of the most important pieces of environmental law in decades and to leave the Lacey Act alone.

Since 2008, the Lacey Act has been instrumental in ensuring a level playing field for American businesses and protecting them from illegal imports. It has also been a powerful tool for protecting the world’s forests and the animals that call them home.

The Lacey Act works -- for businesses and for the environment -- and we need to keep it as is.

Please do everything in your power to make sure that the Lacey Act is not amended in any way or appealed.